After continual lineup issues and lengthy periods of inactivity following the release of their EP Killer Species in 2000, Brisbane based thrash outfit Transfear were officially laid to rest. But while the band were no longer active, it didn’t mark the end of vocalist/bassist Rob Reiff and guitarist Michael Perry’s continued musical collaboration. Instead, it was simply a way of marking a new beginning for the pair, and after recruiting former Misery/The Dead guitarist Scotty Edgar and ex-Misery drummer Anthony Dwyer into the fold, they soon announced the formation of Laceration Mantra.
Three years after first getting together, Laceration Mantra have finally finished work on their debut full-length album Prolonging The Pain. And as expected, the band lives up to the expectations the impressive pedigree of the lineup offers.
Thrown To The Wolves starts the album off in a speedy fashion, with the production allowing enough distinction between all of the member’s respective instruments, all the while maintaining a thick brutal sound. Direction wise, a bit of Deicide can be detected with the use of dual vocals, while the music falls along similar lines of Cannibal Corpse mixed with shades of Morbid Angel in places.
Purveyors Of Torment and Realisation slows things down a touch to reveal some subtle grinding influences to come to the fore alongside some great lead work, while tracks such as The Innermost and Victims Of Hate take their influences a little more from the hardcore side of things both musically and vocally.
Elsewhere, the chaotic twisted riffs and various tempo changes on The Global Straightjacket is a definite highlight, while the catchy Surreal Reality, the chugging groove of the title track Prolonging The Pain and the rather short Barney are further tracks worthy of a mention in the latter half of the album.
Overall, Prolonging The Pain is one solid brutal death metal album from start to finish, and a credit to the members of Laceration Mantra, who have a long history within the Australian metal scene.
